Area less than one acre NRHP Reference # 73000871 Added to NRHP 2 October 1973 | Built 1820 Opened 1820 | |
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Location 901 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana Architectural style Greek Revival architecture Similar New Orleans Jazz Nati, Louis Armstrong Park, Crows Nest National Park, Municipal Auditorium, Mahalia Jackson Theater o | ||
Perseverance Hall No. 4 is a historic building within the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. Originally a Masonic lodge, it was built between 1819 and 1820, making it the oldest Masonic temple in Louisiana.
Its historic significance is based on its use for dances, where black jazz performers and bands reportedly played for black or white audiences. Various organizations, both black and white, rented Perseverance Hall for dances, concerts, Monday night banquets, and recitals. The building was used by multiple masonic lodges, mainly Persévérance no. 4 (FR), but also l'Etoile Polaire no. 1 (FR), Germania Lodge no. 46 (AASR), Amor Fraternal no. 4 (AASR), Trinosophes no. 1 (AASR), Perfect Union no. 1 (YR).
During the early 20th century, some bands, such as the Golden Rule Band, were barred from appearing at Perseverance Hall, apparently because management considered them too undignified for the place. The building also served as a terminal point for Labor Day parades involving white and black bands. During the 1920s and 1930s, well past the formative years of jazz, various jazz bands played there.
Perseverance Hall was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 2, 1973.